Disposable lighter construction



June 11, 1963 F. c. MEYERS 3,092,988

DISPOSABLE LIGHTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 9, 1962 3 SheetsSheet 1ATTORNEY INVENTOR Fef'aEF/Qi 0507/?465 NEYEPs,

BY M 2 each/M0470 H w SiSFEL June 11, 1963 F. c. MEYERS DISPOSABLELIGHTER CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 9, 1962 ATTORNEYE n1963 F. c. MEYERS 3,092,988

DISPOSABLE LIGHTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 9, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR BY WZGWW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,092,988 DISPQSABLELIGHTER CONSTRUCTION Frederick Charles Meyers, 916 Cole Drive, Brielle,NJ. Filed Jan. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 165,184 9 Claims. (Ci. 677.1)

This invention relates to a disposable lighter construction, and moreparticularly to a butane lighter of plastic construction which may beproduced economically and discarded when the fuel is exhausted.

The majority of the presently available lighters employ a conventionalwick which is saturated with a flammable fuel. The fuel supply isusually exhausted quickly either by frequent use or evaporation of thevolatile fuel. Cans of fuel are sold commercially for replenishing thefuel supply in such lighters, and ownership of a lighter of this typewould require that a supply of liquid fuel be maintained for rechargingthe lighter. Lighters constructed in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention overcome the limitations and disadvantages of thelighters presently available.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a plastic throwawaylighter of simple and economical construction.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a plastic lighterin which a single cap is utilized in connection with a replaceableplastic throwaway fuel container and operating mechanism.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a lighterutilizing butane gas in a plastic storage container of uniqueconstruction realizing maximum structural strength and storage capacity.

A still further feature is the provision of a lighter in which theopening and closing of the cap provides a positive fuel valve controlaction.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a lighter having anadjustable fuel valve construction by means of which the flame heightmay be controlled.

Another feature is the provision of a lighter having a unique windshieldconstruction.

Another feature is the provision of a plastic lighter having fillerplugs constructed to serve as blow out plugs in case of excess pressurebuildup within the fuel storage compartment.

Yet another feature is the provision of a plastic lighter constructionhaving an automatic valve cut-off means to prevent the lighter fromburning in an inverted position and damaging the plastic parts.

These features are realized in a lighter construction comprising aplastic body portion having a plurality of intercommunicatingcylindrical bores adapted to contain a flammable fuel. The bores areopen at one end to facilitate the insertion of the fuel, and closuremembers are provided for sealing the bores. These closure members are ofreduced strength to serve also as blowout plugs in case of excesspressure buildup. Mounted in the body portion opposite the endcontaining the closure members is a valve assembly equipped with a ballcheck valve for cutting off the escape of fuel when the lighter is heldin an inverted position, and an adjusting nut for regulating the heightof the flame. A spark producing assembly is mounted adjacent the valvefor igniting the escaping fuel. An elongated spring member including awind shield surrounding the valve is pivotally mounted on the sparkingwheel and has its opposite end extending under a cam-like projectioncarried by the lighter cap. When the cap is closed, the spring member isdepressed so that the wind shield bears against the valve and holds itin a closed position. When the cap is raised, the spring member nolonger bears against the valve assembly but serves to hold the cap inraised position, and the valve is opened for the escape of fuel. The capmay be journaled in a pair of bifurcated plastic ears on the bodyportion to enable removal thereof by a simple snap action. The bodyportion is preferably constructed of plastic to constitute a throwawayarticle when the fuel supply is exhausted.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustratedin the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross sectional view of the lighter showing the cap inclosed position and a detailed structural positioning of the valve partsas indicated by section line 11 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a partial cross sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE1 with the valve structure not sectioned;

FIGURE 3 is a partial cross sectional view of the lighter similar toFIGURE 1 with the cap shown in raised position;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of the valve structure;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the component assemblyof the top of the lighter;

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view taken through the lighter top withtop in closed position;

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view of the body portion of the lightershowing the cylindrical bore construction; and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment in which thecap is attached by snap action.

The invention will now be described in particularity with reference tothe drawings in which FIGURES l and 2 are cross sectional views showingthe front and side of the lighter, respectively. The body of thelighter, indicated generally by the number 1, has a plurality ofintercommunicating cylindrical bores 3, 5 and 7. Bores 3 and 5 arejoined by passageway 4, and bores 5 and 7 are joined by passageway 6.The cylindrical bores have threaded openings in the body portions, andclosure members 9, 11 and 13, which are provided for purposes of fillingand sealing the lighter, are threadedly mounted therein. The threadstructure and thickness of the closure members are designed to producesections of a strength less than the walls of the plastic container, sothat in case of excessive pressures, the closure members will act asblowout plugs before the body portion of the lighter ruptures.

A spark producing assembly is mounted near the top portion of the body 1and includes a spark wheel 15 which is mounted for rotation on a pair ofupstanding lugs 16 and 17 by means of a spark wheel shaft 18 (see FIGURE5). Also mounted on shaft 18 is an elongated spring member 19 having awind shield perforated portion 21 located along one side of aperture 23,and a solid wall portion 25 of reduced height located along the otherside of aperture 23. A resilient curved section 27 of elongated springmember 19 extends down into recess 29 located between upstanding ear lugmembers 31 and 33.

A cap member 35 is pivotally mounted on shaft 37 which extends throughear lugs 31 and 33. Shaft 37 may be screw threadedly mounted, or anyconventional means may be used which will allow the removal of cap 35for the purposes of replacing the body portion 1. A recess 38 isprovided in cap 35 to accommodate the operating mechanism of the lighterlocated on body 1 when the cap 35 is moved to a closed position. Adepending cam portion 39 on cap 35 occupies recess 29 in the body 1where it contacts the resilient curved section 27 to produce a rockingmovement of elongated spring member 19 about shaft 18 as cap member 35is opened a and closed. The resilient section 27 exerts a pressureagainst the depending cam portion 39 to bias the cap 35' in open andclosed positions.

A cylindrical member 41 of a flint-like substance is mounted within arecessed bore 43 in the body 1 and projects through aperture 42 inelongated spring 19. A coiled spring member 45 biases the flint 41 sothat it is in constant contact with spark wheel 15 in order to produce ashower of sparks upon rotation of spark wheel 15.

The fuel valve assembly will be explained in conjunction with FIGURES land 4, which show the valve in cross section and exploded perspective,respectively. The valve assembly includes a nozzle portion 47 having alongitudinal bore 49 which terminates near the bottom portion of thenozzle 47 Where it communicates with a lateral bore 51. Nozzle 47 isslidably seated within the valve body 52 and rests upon triangularspacer member 53, which is constructed of a resilient material. Apassageway 55 in the bottom of valve body 52 receives pin 56, the bottomof which carries a circular slug 57 having a serrated bottom portion.Rubber gasket 58 is mounted around the lower portion of valve body 52,and an annular porous filter element 59 surrounds pin 56 and isinterposed between valve body 52 and circular slug 57. Slug 57 rests inthe top portion of sleeve 61. Inserted in the lower end of sleeve 61 isa wick tube 63 containing a porous wick member 65. A ball member 67 islocated between the wick 65 and passageway 66 in sleeve 61. The valveassembly is supported within body 1 on rubber collar member 69. Aknurled adjustment nut 71 having a square aperture complementary to thesquare upper portion of valve body 52 is disposed on valve body 52, andby means of this nut the valve 52 may be threaded into and out of bodymember 1 to adjust the escape of fuel as will be explained later.

The preferred fuel for this lighter construction is butane, which is aliquid under normal pressure conditions and temperatures slightly belowfreezing of water and a gas at higher temperatures. Because of thenature of the fuel, the lighter is loaded with fuel under either reducedtemperature conditions or conditions in which the fuel is pressurized tokeep it in the liquid state. Cylindrical bores 3, and 7 are filled withliquid butane to the desired level, and closure members 9, 11 and 13 areinserted to produce a hermetically sealed structure. At temperaturesabove the vaporization temperature of butane, a pressure buildup isproduced in the fuel storage compartments which forces gaseous butanethrough the nozzle 47 when the valve is open.

The passage of the butane from the fuel storage compartments followsthrough wick 65 in wick tubing 63, through passageway 66, aroundserrated slug 67, through annular porous filter 59, through passageway56, around triangular spacer 53, and through bores 51 and 49 where it isignited at the tip of nozzle 47. This escape of fuel is possible whenthe cap 35 is in a raised position, relieving the pressure of cam 39 onresilient curved section 27 of elongated spring member 19. When the cap35 is closed, cam section 39 bears against the resilient curved section27, thus forcing the wind shield portion 41 down against the nozzlesection 47. Nozzle 47 compresses the triangular spacer member 53 andshuts off the escape of gas through passageway 55.

The height of the flame may be adjusted by turning knurled adjustmentnut 71. This forces the valve body 52 into or out of the body portion land regulates the dis- ;tance which pin 56 extends into passageway 55,and also the amount of pressure exerted on the porous annular filter59'. The amount of compression of the annular filter 59 and the extentof pin 56 into passageway 55 controls the amount of gasescaping from thefuel storage the lugs 73 and 75 are made of a resilient material andassume a bifurcated configuration. The shaft 37 in cap 35 is attachedpermanently, such as by riveting, and when pressure is applied, theshaft 37 may be snapped into place between the bifurcated portions oflugs 73 and 75. in this fashion the cap 35 may be removed from the bodyportion it with a simple motion requiring no additional tools ordisassembling. In this fashion a single cap member may be utilized witha number of different body portions, and when the fuel supply isexhausted in replacement body portion, it is not necessary to discardthe cap member with the rest of the structure. This arrangement permitsa relatively expensive cap member to be utilized with inexpensivereplacement body portions. it is to be understood, of course, that thecap 35 may also be of inexpensive plastic construction similar to thebody portion 1. In this case the entire lighter could be discarded whenthe fuel supply is exhausted.

Because the structure is plastic, it must be protected from directcontact with the flame. The wind shield perforated portion 21 and solidwall portion 25 prevent the flame from contacting any part of theplastic body portion 1 when the lighter is held in an upright position.When the lighter is inverted such that the flame might turn back againstthe plastic body l, the ball 67 in the valve structure seats in theopening of passageway 66 and cuts off the flow of escaping gas, therebyextinguishing the flame. By utilizing only a half wind shield 21, it ispossible to keep the height of the flame at a reduced level, therebyconserving the butane fuel. If the wind shield 21 extended completelyaround aperture 23, it would be necessary to maintain a high flame atall times in order to insure that the lighter would operate elfectively.

While the invention has been shown and described with particularreference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes in the form and details may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A lighter comprising a hollow body portion adapted to contain aflammable fuel, valve means mounted in said body portion for controllingthe escape of said flammable fuel, a spark producing assembly forigniting said fuel, an elongated spring member including wind shieldmeans surrounding said valve means and having a portion adapted to bearupon said valve means to close said valve means, and cap means pivotallymounted on said body portion and having means thereon engaging saidelongated spring member, whereby movement of said cap means to open andclosed positions on said body portion will cause said elongated springmember to release and close said valve means.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said wind shield meanscomprises a wall portion of a first height on one side of said valvemeans and a solid wall portion of a second substantially lower height onthe other side of said valve means.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said hollow portion isprovided with a closure member to facilitate filling and having areduced strength compared to said body portion whereby excess pressurein said body portion will first cause failure of said closure member.

4. A lighter comprising a plastic body portion having a plurality ofintercommunicating cylindrical bores adapted to contain a flammablefuel, valve means mounted in said body portion for controlling theescape of said flammable fuel, a spark producing assembly for ignitingsaid fuel, an elongated spring member including Wind shield meanssurrounding said valve means and having a portion adapted to bear uponsaid valve means to close said valve means, and cap means pivotallymounted on said body portion and having means thereon engaging saidelongated spring member, whereby movement of said cap means to open andclosed positions on said body portion will cause said elongated springmember to release and close said valve means.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said wind shield meanscomprises a perforated wall portion of a first height on one side ofsaid valve means and a solid wall portion of a second substantiallylower height on the other side of said valve means.

6. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said cylindrical boresare provided with closure members to facilitate filling and having areduced strength compared to said body portion whereby excess pressurein said body portion will first cause failure of said closure members.

7. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said valve means areprovided with adjustable means for regulating the flame height.

8. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said valve means areprovided with means for automatically shutting off the flow of fuel whenthe lighter is held in an inverted position.

9. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said body portion isprovided with a pair of resilient bifurcated projections serving asbearings for the pivotal mounting of said cap, whereby said cap may besnapped in and out of engagement with said projetcions when it isdesired to replace said body portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,576,431 White Nov. 27, 1951 2,680,962 Lipic et al. June 15, 19542,697,339 Reich Dec. 21, 1954 2,765,094 Ryan Oct. 2, 1954 2,827,782Gruber Mar. 25, I958 FOREIGN PATENTS 800,939 Great Britain Sept. 3, 19581,115,071 Germany Oct. 12, 1961

1. A LIGHTER COMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY PORTION ADAPTED TO CONTAIN AFLAMMABLE FUEL, VALVE MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID BODY PORTION FOR CONTROLLINGTHE ESCAPE OF SAID FLAMMABLE FUEL, A SPARK PRODUCINNG ASSEMBLY FORIGNITING SAID FUEL, AN ELONGATED SPRING MEMBER INCLUDING WIND SHIELDMEANS SURROUNDING SAID VALVE MEANS AND HAVING A PORTION ADAPTED TO BEARUPON SAID VALVE MEANS TO CLOSE SAID VALVE MEANS, AND CAP MEANS PIVOTALLYMOUNTED ON SAID BODY PORTION AND HAVING MEANS THEREON